Here Are the Winners of JA’s 2019 CASE Awards for Jewelry Design

Jewelers of America (JA) has announced the winners of its annual CASE Awards, which recognizes JA member retailers who exhibit “creativity, artistry, style, and excellence” in jewelry design.

First- and second-place winners were selected out of 54 entries in four categories: jewelry retailing up to $2,000, $2,001 to $5,000, $5,001 to $10,000, and $10,001 and over.

Here are the 2019 CASE Awards winners:

Jewelry Up to $2,000

First Place
C3 Designs
Designed by Chris Jensen
South Milwaukee, Wis.

Chris Jensen earrings CASE Awards
Sterling silver and 14k yellow gold earrings with rough selenite crystal and rough black tourmaline crystal, accented with bezel-set rainbow topaz cabochon, topaz, London blue topaz, and diamonds; Chris Jensen for C3 Designs 

Second Place
The Gem Vault
Designed by Sharon Curtiss-Gal
Flemington, N.J.

Sharon Curtiss Gal CASE Awards
Necklace in 14k rose and white gold with 1.2 ct. Australian opal and diamonds on a 14k rose gold chain; Sharon Curtiss-Gal for the Gem Vault 

 

Jewelry $2,001 to $5,000

First Place
Ricardo Basta Fine Jewelry
Designed by Ricardo Basta
Los Angeles

CASE Awards Ricardo Basta Ring
Top and above: Ring in 14k yellow gold featuring 7.05 ct. heat-treated blue zircon with 0.12 cts. t.w. round brilliant-cut diamonds; Ricardo Basta 

Second Place
Devon Fine Jewelry
Designed by Marianne Vander Wall
Wyckoff, N.J.

CASE Awards Marianne Vander Wall pendant
Pendant in 18k rose gold with 6.43 ct. bezel-set kite-shape peridot dangling from a 0.96 ct. trillion-cut green tourmaline with three bezel-set diamonds; Marianne Vander Wall for Devon Fine Jewelry

 

Jewelry $5,001 to $10,000

First Place
Lee Ayers Jewelers
Designed by Thomas Dailing
Stevens Point, Wis.

CASE Awards Thomas Dailing necklace
Nova pendant in 14k white gold with an 18.97 ct. concave faceted citrine accented with 0.85 cts. t.w round diamonds; Thomas Dailing for Lee Ayers Jewelers 

Second Place
Bella Fine Jewelry
Designed by Irina Orshansky        
Guilderland, N.Y.

CASE Awards Irina Orshansky decanter
Decanter made with silver, 22k yellow gold–plated gilding, glass, and enamel, featuring the owner’s monogram; Irina Orshansky for Bella Fine Jewelry 

 

Jewelry $10,001 and Over

First Place
Ricardo Basta Fine Jewelry
Designed by Ricardo Basta
Los Angeles

CASE Awards Ricardo Basta earrings
Earrings in 18k yellow gold with 35.49 cts. t.w. trillion-cut pink tourmaline, 3.22 cts. t.w. faceted aquamarines, 1.55 cts. t.w. round brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamonds, 0.16 cts. t.w. round faceted pink sapphires, and 0.22 cts. t.w. round faceted aquamarines; Ricardo Basta 

Second Place
Faye Kim Fine Jewelry
Designed by Faye Kim
Westport, Conn.

CASE Awards Faye Kim
Ring with 28.8 ct. natural Australian crystal opal from Corcoran Field Lightning Ridge mine in southern Australia, set in 18k green gold with a band of 0.42 cts. t.w. micro-pavé-set diamonds; Faye Kim 

Winners were chosen by a panel of experts who evaluated the pieces’ overall design, marketability, practicality/wearability, and quality of manufacture.

Judges included JCK contributing editor and columnist Amy Elliott, National Jeweler senior editor Brecken Branstrator, Deirdre Featherstone of Featherstone Design, Amanda Gizzi of Jewelers of America, NYC Jewelry Week cofounder JB Jones, GemologyGeek’s Erica Silverglide, and Maria Tsangaropoulos, a GIA jewelry manufacturing arts instructor.

(All photos by Bart Gorin Photography, courtesy of Jewelers of America)

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